OUR farmers and families across the state have been doing it tough due to the floods and the people of NSW have responded by donating their recycling Return and Earn credits to the cause.

Thanks to generous Return and Earn recyclers in NSW, not-for-profit GIVIT has raised more than $17,000 to support people affected by floods across NSW.

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GIVIT has been featured on all Return and Earn machines in NSW since April this year, enabling anyone to donate their container refunds to help people impacted by the recent floods.

“This year we have seen people across the state devastated by the severe weather, and the funds donated to GIVIT through Return and Earn will help provide essentials such as food, clothes, and household goods to impacted families,” said Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, scheme coordinator for Return and Earn.

After 16 October 2022, NSW recyclers can continue to support GIVIT’s flood appeal by using the donate feature on the Return and Earn app when returning containers at a Return and Earn machine.

“If you haven’t participated in container recycling with Return and Earn, now is a great time to start.

“Every little bit adds up to make a big difference to communities, as well as our local environment,” Ms Smalley said.

GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant said that needs for people impacted by floods across New South Wales will continue for months.

“There are still more than 11,000 requests for assistance on the GIVIT platform for people affected by this disaster,” said Ms Tennant.

“As these regions enter the recovery phase and people begin to move back into repaired homes, items such as furniture, washing machines and kitchen essentials are needed to help them get back on their feet.

“All money received by GIVIT will be used to purchase essential items,” she said.

More than eight billion containers have been returned for recycling through the network of 620-plus return points across NSW since the scheme started, and over $35 million has been raised for charities and community groups via donations and fees from hosting return points.

For more information about Return and Earn visit www.returnandearn.org.au.

To download the Return and Earn app, search for ‘Return and Earn’ in the App Store.

Return and Earn has several ways that you can recycle drink bottles and cans including options like the over the counter services at Booral and Bulahdelah, as well as larger self serve Return and Earn ending machines.

For those doing it though, Return and Earn also offers Paypal credits and supermarket credit vouchers which can assist with managing the family budget.

By Marian SAMPSON